What is research and why do it?

To begin I’d like to clarify that there is “Research” (capital “R”), and then there’s
“research” (lowercase “r”). “Research” as concerned with scientists and applied
linguists involves a very meticulous and rigorous set of procedures aimed at
presenting a study’s findings (that are deemed reliable and valid) to an academic
audience. This is highly specialized and requires a great degree of training. It tends
to be very theoretical but can also have some practical implications/applications in
the language classroom. Then there’s “research”, inquiries that originate from a
teacher based on his/her observations and that he/she investigates further in order to
draw some logical conclusions. These findings may not necessarily be presented to
an academic audience (though they very well may; it’s really up to the teacher how
far he/she pursues public dissemination of the results), but are rather intended to help
the teacher make informed, evidence-based decisions about how to more effectively
run his/her class.

We will be more concerned with “research” for this short post and we will regard it
broadly as involving: “1) question(s) to be answered, 2) systematic collection of
data, 3) analysis of data [and] 4) answer(s) to the question(s)” (Smith & Rebodello,
2018, p.16). One common research method utilized in language teaching that you
might have heard of is “action research”, defined as “systematically collecting data
on your everyday practice and analyzing it in order to come to some decisions about
what your future practice should be” (Wallace, 1998, pg. 4). In essence, both
research definitions explain that you as a teacher reflect on and observe what’s
happening in your classroom, record information to serve as evidence, analyze it
with the goal of answering questions that you have come up with and finally think
about how those results might help you modify your current teaching practices.
Because we don’t have a lot of space to go into the procedural details of action
research, I highly suggest you read 1) “A Handbook for Exploratory Action
Research” by Richard Smith and Paula Rebolledo (courtesy of our very own here at
Teaching English!), and 2) Action Research for Language Teachers by Michael
Wallace. They are really fantastic books which give teachers a strong foundation in
basic research and provide practical examples of how teachers go about effectively
investigating language matters in their classrooms.

Types of research
Fundamental and applied research are the two main research categories. Most
research types can be traced back to being fundamental or applied, depending on the
study's goals.

1. Fundamental research

Fundamental, also known as basic or theoretical, research is designed to help

researchers better understand certain phenomena in the world. It looks at how things
work but does not seek to find how to make them work better. This research attempts
to broaden your understanding and expand scientific theories and
explanations.Example: A company studies how different product placements affect
product sales. This study provides information and is knowledge-based.Related: 20
Types of Research Design You Can Use For Your Research

2. Applied research

Applied research is designed to identify solutions to specific problems or find answers

to particular questions. It offers knowledge that is applicable and implementable.Types
of applied research include:

 Technological: this research looks for ways to improve efficiency in

products, processes and production.
 Scientific: this research measures certain variables to predict
behaviors, outcomes and impact.
Example: A student working on a doctorate in education studies ways to increase
student involvement in the classroom. This research focuses on a defined problem
and is solution-based.Related: Basic Research vs. Applied Research: Definition
and Examples

Additional types of research

Here are additional types of research you may consider as you design your research
project:

3. Action research

Action research refers to examining actions, assessing their effectiveness in bringing

about the desired outcome and choosing a course of action based on those results. It
is typically used in educational settings for teachers and principals to perform a type
of self-assessment and course correction.Example: A teacher collects data about
their methods of teaching fifth-grade math. At the end of the first school quarter, they
discovered only 33% of students demonstrated proficiency in the concepts. As a
result, the teacher implements new methods for the second quarter.Related: How To
Write a Research Plan (With Definitions and Examples)

4. Causal research

Causal research, also called explanatory research, seeks to determine cause-and-

effect relationships between variables. It identifies how much one variable may cause
a change in the other. Causal research is important for evaluating current processes
and procedures and determining if and how changes should take place.Example: A
business studies employee retention rates before and after instituting a work-from-
home policy after six months of employment to see if the approach increases
employee retention.Read more: What Is Causal Research? (With Examples,
Benefits and Tips)
5. Classification research

Classification research seeks to identify and classify individual elements of a group

into larger groups or subgroups.Example: Researchers study an animal species,
placing them in defined categories based on shared characteristics, such as:

 body segmentation
 type of habitat
 reproductive methods
 diet
Related: What Is Environmental Research? 15 Topics To Consider

6. Comparative research

Comparative research identifies similarities and differences between two individuals,

subjects or groups.Example: A business owner reviews new hire training
documentation and discovers that new employees receive much of the same
information at orientation and in their initial departmental training. The owner
incorporates materials into one session to allow more time for department-specific
training.

7. Cross-sectional research

Cross-sectional, or synchronous, research studies a group or subgroup at one point

in time. Participants are generally chosen based on specific shared characteristics,
such as age, gender or income, and researchers examine the similarities and
differences within and between groups. The group is often used as a representation
of a larger population.Example: A company researches the sales techniques of its top
10% of salespeople and compares them to those of its bottom 10%. This gives the
company insights into the most successful and least successful sales methods.

8. Deductive research

Deductive, or theory-testing, research is the opposite of inductive research and moves

from the broad to the specific. Researchers choose a hypothesis and test its accuracy
through experimentation or observation.Example: Researchers observed that 12
international corporations enacted in-house carbon emissions standards in the same
year. They use deductive research to compare global emissions levels before and
after the measures were enacted.Read more: Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning

9. Exploratory research

Exploratory research examines what is already known about a topic and what
additional information may be relevant. It rarely answers a specific question but
instead presents the foundational knowledge of a subject as a precursor to further
research. Often, exploratory research is applied to lesser-known issues and
phenomena.Example: You may consider what is currently known about the success
of yearlong maternity and paternity leave programs. Your research includes gathering
all relevant information and compiling it in an accessible format that wasn't available
previously. Your findings may reveal gaps in knowledge, leading to additional studies
in the future.Related: Definitive Guide To Secondary Research

10. Field research

Field research occurs wherever the participants or subjects are or "on location." This
type of research requires onsite observation and data collection.Example: A
manufacturing plant hires an environmental engineering firm to test the air quality at
the plant to ensure it complies with federal health and safety requirements. The
researchers travel to the plant to collect samples.Related: Types of Observational
Studies

11. Fixed research

Fixed research involves procedures determined ahead of time, such as how often
testing will take place, where it will take place, the number of subjects and their types.
The research depends on precise conditions and compliance with predetermined
protocols to reduce variables. Experimentation is often fixed research.Example: A
researcher wants to test how different labels affect consumers' ratings of a sports
drink. Participants are given the same drink with various labels at the same time and
take a survey about taste and overall impressions. The timing of providing each drink
and the subsequent surveys are critical to the study's validity.Related: 7 Interview
Methods in Research (Plus Interviewing Tips)

12. Flexible research

Flexible research allows procedures to change throughout the course of the

experiment. The different types of flexible research include the following:

 Case studies: case studies are in-depth analyses and observations

about a specific individual or subject.
 Ethnographic studies: ethnographic studies are in-depth analyses
and observations of a group of people.
 Grounded theory studies: grounded theory studies are designed to
develop theories based on carefully collected and analyzed data.
Example: A physician uses a case study methodology to follow a patient through
symptoms, treatment and recovery.Related: How To Become a Social Researcher

13. Inductive research

Inductive research, also known as theory-building research, collects data that may
help develop a new theory about a process or phenomenon. It examines observations
and patterns and offers several hypotheses to explain these patterns. Inductive
research is often the first step in theory generation and may lead to additional
research, such as deductive research, to further test possible
hypotheses.Example: Researchers observed that worldwide emissions declined
when 12 international corporations enacted in-house carbon emissions standards in
the same year. The researchers theorize that worldwide emissions can be reduced
significantly if international corporations impose in-house emissions standards.

14. Laboratory research

Laboratory research occurs in a controlled laboratory rather than in the field. Often,
the study demands strict adherence to certain conditions, such as eliminating
variables or timing conditions. Laboratory research includes chemical experimentation
and pharmacological research.Example: A pharmaceutical company researches a
new drug formula to determine if it would benefit diabetes patients. Researchers
closely monitor chemical interactions in laboratory settings before moving to the next
step.Related: What Is a Medical Researcher?

15. Longitudinal research

Longitudinal research focuses on how certain measurements change over time

without manipulating any determining variables. Types of longitudinal research
include:

 Trend study: research examines population characteristics over time.

 Cohort study: research traces a subpopulation over time.
 Panel study: research traces the same sample over time.
Example: A researcher examines if and how employee satisfaction changes in the
same employees after one year, three years and five years with the same company.

16. Mixed research

Mixed research includes both qualitative and quantitative data. The results are often
presented as a mix of graphs, words and images.Example: A car manufacturer asks
car buyers to complete a survey after buying a red or white sedan. Questions focus
on how much the color impacted their decision and other opinion-based
questions.Related: Quantitative and Qualitative Research: Uses for Each

17. Policy research

Policy research examines the effects of current government or social policies or

predicts the potential effects of proposed policies related to the distribution of
resources.Policy researchers often work within government agencies and conduct the
following types of studies:

 Cost analysis
 Cost-benefit analysis
 Program evaluation
 Needs analysis
Example: An agency may research how a policy for vaccine distribution will affect
residents in rural areas. The outcome may change where the government sets up free
shot clinics.

18. Qualitative research

Qualitative research involves non-numerical data, such as opinions and literature. It

uses descriptions to obtain the meanings and feelings involved in a situation.
Businesses often use qualitative research to determine consumer opinions and
reactions.Examples of qualitative research may include:

 focus groups
 surveys
 participant comments
 observations
 interviews
Example: A marketing organization presents a new commercial to a focus group
before airing it publicly to receive feedback. The company collects non-numerical
data—the opinions of the focus group participants—to make decisions.Read
more: Types of Qualitative Research: Definition and Examples

19. Quantitative research

Quantitative research depends on numerical data, such as statistics and

measurements, to investigate specific questions, like who, what, where or when. The
results are usually presented in tables or graphs.Types of quantitative methods
include:

 survey research
 descriptive research
 correlational research
Example: A car manufacturer compares the number of sales of red sedans compared
to white sedans. The research uses objective data—the sales figures for red and white
sedans—to draw conclusions.
 Presentation on – “Research and its Classification”

MD. SABBIR HOSSAIN

CLASS ID: 1233009
REG: ENG23001722
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, JAHANGIRNAGAR UNIVERSITY
ELT-044: RESEARCH

PROF. DR. M. MANIRUZZAMAN

PROFESSOR & HEAD
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
JAHANGIRNAGAR UNIVERSITY

06TH DEEMBER, 2024